Beyond Pocahontas

Abstract

In June 1998, I was reading through my monthly subscriptions to News From Indian Country and Indian Country Today when I came across an ad soliciting job applications for the U.S. Secret Service.1 I am going to call this ad Warrior Woman (see figure 4.1). Warrior Woman entreats “young Americans with diverse skills and back-grounds who are interested in a challenging career in federal law enforcement.” Centered at the top of the ad in bold-faced print, the ad seeks “a new kind of WARRIOR.” Below, an American Indian woman stands direct in a black suit and white buttoned-up dress shirt. Behind her left arm there is a detail of the Secret Service’s badge, shadowing her in gray outline. In her right hand, she holds a spear garnered with feathers and wrapped in cloth (you almost forget to notice her polished nails, matching lipstick, and silver ring). Around her left ear, dangling down into the inside of her jacket’s lapel, is an almost trans-parent ear-piece. On her lapel, there is a small silver pin in the shape and colors of the U.S. flag. The first button on her jacket is large and silver, bearing a design of four arrows pointing out. Framing the bottom of the ad is the main text, overlaid another U.S. flag. The badge centers the “Secret Service.” Below the image appears the following text:

Everyday the U.S. Secret Service battles to protect our nation’s leaders and financial systems. We are looking for young Americans with diverse skills and backgrounds who are interested in a challenging career in federal law enforcement. To find out more, give us a call.

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